Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Hypnosia - Extreme Hatred (2000)
Hypnosia was a more unknown and underrated band. They were formed in the late 90s and tried to revive the withering thrash metal scene with a few releases, including this album Extreme Hatred released in 2000. Sadly, they did not get the amount of fame they were hoping for, and they split up a couple years later. There's no chance they will ever reform, due to the passing of drummer Michael Sjöstrand from skin cancer. RIP...
When the band was still active, their music did not affect metal's formula or popularity at the time, yet you can't deny the goodness of the music that's worth many listens. Extreme Hatred can be considered a tribute to the classic 80s era of bands like Sepultura, Kreator, and Slayer, in practically a higher level.
The title opener is actually my least favorite song here. Still it's quite good with the vocal screams, drum blasts, and guitar riffs worth starting up this album. Taking off further is "Circle Of The Flesh". Then "The Last Remains" continues the thrashy nature of the previous track, reminding some of late-80s Sepultura. This album is so solid so far, should I keep up the track descriptions? Yes I should, it's my thing!
The riffing in the chorus for "Operation Clean-Sweep" is a bit bumpy, like the two guitarists don't know what the h*ll they were doing. Hypnosia takes us past the midway point of the album with the great "Comatose", with a slower crushing pace. Highlight "Act of Lunacy" blasts through beastly thrash in the bass and drums.
"Gates of Cirith Ungol" is a 3-minute instrumental. It's not a long crusade that the instrumentals made by Metallica and Death Angel are, but it's quite excellent. Great riffing and slow evolution from acoustic to heavy. "Hang 'Em High" is just two minutes of fast fury. Finally, "Traumatic Suffering" can surely make a classic! Thrashing in the riffs and drumming all the way to the end with the final fade.
The thrash metal scene is no longer how it was in the classic 80s era, though the Swedish death metal scene was expanding in the early 2000s to include thrash, with bands like The Haunted and The Crown. Different from the popular 80s thrash bands while touching upon what made them great. If you wish for more of the aspects of Sepultura, Slayer, and the Teutonic thrash Big 4, in a short-lived yet different and unique band, Extreme Hatred is your answer. Nothing wrong if you're up for the riffs chopping you and drums running you over like a train before you're pieced back together by the end!
Favorites: "The Last Remains", "Comatose", "Act of Lunacy", "Gates of Cirith Ungol", "Traumatic Suffering"